Martirio di S. Barnaba 1355

Giovanni da Milano painted this panel depicting the martyrdom of Saint Barnabas, whose halo signifies his sainthood, with tempera on wood. Barnabas is engulfed in flames, a powerful symbol of purification and sacrifice, yet also a brutal method of execution. Consider the halo, a motif that traces back to pre-Christian sun worship, adapted to signify divine grace. It appears here, and in countless iterations of sacred figures across cultures, each time imbued with the weight of tradition and belief. The fire, too, resonates with ancient rituals – think of the sacrificial fires of antiquity or the bonfires of pagan festivals. Fire has evolved into both a symbol of destruction and purification, a duality that grips the subconscious. The cyclical nature of symbols is ever-present, revealing how cultural memory evolves, adapts, and finds new expression across time.